March 6, 2021
Sharing from the Congregation – David Petty
I am about to do a new thing! Now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? —Isaiah 43:19
Some seed fell into good soil, and when it grew, it produced a hundredfold. — Luke 8:8
Seeds are considered to be a sign of newness, but we make a seed grow by planting it in soil that is, well, as old as dirt. How do we balance the old and the new? Specifically, how does the church react to dramatically changing times, responsively and responsibly, while still adhering to its established message, one that we somewhat ironically refer to as news? We worship the ancient of days, but we are called to do so by serving and proclaiming on this day. And by preparing to serve and proclaim in days to come.
It’s a big question, and I’m a small man. But in these truly unprecedented times, it’s big enough that we need to look for answers urgently ... if we believe that church should be more than something to comfort ourselves in our old age. So here are my ideas, as a small contribution to the discussion.
First, although I don’t believe in jumping onto everything new just because it’s new, neither should we be afraid of the new. Newness is a gift from God. It’s a blessing, even if folks my age have a hard time accepting that.
Second, we need to be clear on just what our message is, and what’s secondary. That means making the hard effort to learn, and making a continuing effort to remember.
Third, it’s good to notice that history sometimes cycles, so that what seems to be new might be a recurrence of the old, even if in a somewhat different form. Let me give what I hope is a simple illustration. For ages storytelling has been a popular means of teaching and sharing information (the Bible provides numerous examples). Over the past century or two, however, scientific and rational thinking has led to more direct and specific styles of communication. In recent years storytelling has re-emerged, even if it frequently takes multimedia forms never imagined by the original storytellers.
The first step to solving any real problem is accepting that it’s a problem. Some people that I love will disagree with me on whether change is a problem. They will say that the church does not need to change, that people should either accept it as it is or go elsewhere. I respect that view, but I believe a close reading of scripture indicates otherwise. What do you think?
Gracefully submitted,
David Petty